NASEO’s members, the 56 governor-designated State and Territory Energy Offices, are agents of energy policy and program innovation. They advance practical energy policies and support public-private partnerships in energy technology research, demonstration, commercialization, and deployment. The conference will include a wide array of federal and private sector partners, including federal and Congressional offices; state and local planners, developers, and regulators; grid operators and transmission organizations; and businesses and investors interested in clean energy economic development.

Sessions open to the public will cover the following topics:

Powering America – Congressional Action and Legislative Outlook
Over the past year, the U.S. House-passed, with leadership by the House Energy Subcommittee, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017(H.R. 3050) to increase the states’ abilities to support energy emergency preparedness, enhance cyber security in the energy sector, and promote hydropower. This federal legislative outlook session provides a leadership view of what’s ahead for Congress in 2018.

Historic Federal Tax Changes and the Impact on Private, State, and Local Energy Infrastructure Investments
An historic tax bill is poised to significantly change energy-related economic development. This session will dig-in to the details of the tax bill, strategize on how best to craft (and recraft) public-private energy infrastructure investments, and provide actionable information for state and private energy decisionmakers engaged in program and project development.

Resiliency, Reliability, and Energy Infrastructure Planning – Recovering from Disaster Faster
The devastating hurricanes of 2017 have left communities from Texas to the U.S. Virgin Islands in recovery mode. These events have also stimulated considerable debate among State Energy Officials, corporate leaders, and Members of Congress about the right way to rebuild and the right kinds of incentives to improve resilience and lower the human and economic costs of disasters. This session looks at the practical steps some states are taking to enhance energy system resilience, and provides insights and ideas from private sector innovators on the types of partnerships and incentives that can build stronger communities.

Energy Storage, Renewable Power, and Demand Response – Have we Arrived at a 100% Solution?
New technologies are being introduced that will result in dramatically greater energy storage capacity and significantly lower costs. Wind, hydro, solar, and other renewable resources are practical throughout much of the nation. And, a few states and cities are moving toward 100% renewable power goals coupled with grid-building demand strategies. This session will review new technologies being introduced to market, and explore policies that can help or hinder infrastructure investment.

Rural Energy Affordability and Economic Development
While many state and some federal programs, such as the Rural Energy for America Program and Rural Utilities Service (operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture), seek to address the energy needs of rural areas and small communities, resources are inadequate and new public-private options are required. This session introduces NASEO’s Rural Energy Task Force and examines the results of a new study on rural energy cost burdens and needs. In addition, this session will explore strategies for reducing energy costs, increasing efficiency rural and small-town buildings, facilities, and operations, and catalyzing economic development in those areas.

Distribution System Revolution – Impacts, Benefits and Who Pays for What
Building-grid integration, transportation electrification, AI-enabled energy management, community solar, and energy storage are converging. What are the system costs and benefits of these advances in technologies? What do companies entering the DG space need to access the grid, and what is a fair price for that access? What business, policy, and regulatory models are we moving toward? During this interactive, roundtable discussion, experts will present their ideas in four key areas, followed by a facilitated discussion with the audience aimed at identifying barriers, needs, and questions for further research.

The conference will also include two keynote luncheons, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – Priorities and Outlook and U.S. Department of Energy Outlook – New Priorities, Budgets, and Structure.